Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

The purpose of this critical synthesis was to map the evidence-base on the role of effective leadership on health systems performance in low and middle income countries (LMICs). A literature review was conducted to synthesize the evidence on health system performance and leadership in LMICs to identify research priorities in strengthening health systems by training and maintaining effective and competent health leaders at multiple levels (community, regional, national, and global). There is limited evidence on the nature of leadership required to re-engineer and improve health systems performance in LMICs. This evidence synthesis will highlight on three important sub-themes: i) leadership styles that can improve health system performance, ii) potential leadership competency frameworks that can facilitate mechanisms for operationalizing how effective leaders can build stronger health systems, iii) attributes and qualities of health systems necessary to produce effective health leaders. Several case studies from South African countries, Jamaica and Pakistan were identified to provide contextual examples of how leadership has shaped health system performance in LMICs and how can leadership be further prioritized to address future health system challenges.